Editor reflects on time in ECHO

Editor in Chief Jack Killeen works hard to get his story done for the quickly approaching deadline. Junior Sports Editor Bennett Durando looks over the man’s shoulder, privately thinking, “What a legend.” (Photo by Jack Killeen.)

Jack Killeen
Editor-in Chief

When I was born, it was decided I would be in the ECHO. It was a fate scribed in the stars and written in the stones.

My father is a reporter for KMOX, my older sister and brother were on the ECHO and my mom often reads the news on her Facebook feed. To be in my family means to be a journalist, yet for some reason the youngest child, Emilee Killeen, refuses to be in the ECHO.

Emilee is a freshman. She likes Strange Donuts and walking unannounced into her older brother’s room while he’s trying to sleep. Like Emilee, I was once a rebellious youth and didn’t want to follow my predecessors Katie and Kevin into the ECHO, but then I realized the ECHO is the coolest thing ever, and I joined it. C’mon, Emilee. Join the ECHO already.

If you’re reading this, and you’re not Emilee Killeen, find her and tell her she needs to join the ECHO, please.

The ECHO’s been cool. I got to hang out with alumnus Willie Zempel a lot. I also got a lot of free food from food challenges and played a lot of Curveball on the computer. Yes, Ms. Moore, I know I’m not supposed to use “a lot,” but I’m a senior, and none of this matters anyways, so Imma do what I want. Yeet.

High school’s been pretty cool too. I didn’t like getting up early every day, but lunch was good. The best part was definitely walking around the hallways and handing out ECHOs for an entire hour. Y’know what, I’m feeling saucy, so I’m gonna talk some more about the ECHO.

I also got to hang out every day with a staff of fun and talented people, all of whom I can call my friends. The ECHO has honestly been my favorite part about high school and will be the thing I’ll miss most about WGHS.

If you like writing, want to do more with your high school career, or just like wandering around the hallways, then the ECHO is perfect for you. The ECHO is a class, not an after-school club, so it won’t take time away from your after-school schedule. It also looks great on college applications, so why not join the ECHO?

To Webster Groves High School, I leave $2. Junior Bennett Durando owes me $5, so ask him for it.

To Caleb Bolin, I leave my seat in Donald Johnson’s room so that he can stare over Bennett’s shoulder and nit-pick every little thing Bennett does just like he did to me. Have fun, Bennett.

To Emilee Killeen, I leave a disappointing glare because she still hasn’t joined the ECHO.

Finally, what everyone has been waiting for: I, the cartoonist of the ECHO, leave Willie’s Comic to Bennett Durando and Andy Kimball, under the conditions that it remains under the title of Willie’s Comic, they don’t use potty jokes, and they keep it original.

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Photo of the Week

Participant in Breakfast with Santa makes paper snowflakes. Children also made reindeer food and sat on Santa's lap. It was put on as a fundraiser for Marketing II/DECA New York Trip. Photo by Lindsey Bennett